Monday, July 12, 2010

Tropical cyclone "Basyang" (international code name Conson) intensified further into a tropical storm on Monday afternoon and continued to move toward Northern Luzon, prompting state weather forecasters to place seven areas in Luzon under Storm Signal No. 1.

In its 5 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Basyang" may make landfall over Isabela and Northern Aurora Tuesday evening.

"The rest of Luzon and Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it added.

Joel Gaviola, Department of Energy (DOE) public relations officer who is based in Manila, said they are still waiting for a report on why the thermal plant, which is maintained and operated by SPC Power Corp., stopped operating.

Although the two 84-megawatt coal-fired power plants in Toledo City have been tested and are finished, they still cannot supply power to the grid because they have yet to be turned over by the contractor, Formosa Heavy Industries Inc., to the Cebu Energy Development Corp. (CEDC), Gaviola said.

Gaviola said from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. yesterday, the power deficiency inthe CNP grid was placed at 130 megawatts.

The first of the brownouts hit several parts of Liloan and Consolacion towns and Mandaue City at 9:03 a.m. Another brownout hit several parts of Cebu City and Mandaue City at 9:15 a.m. The brownout spread to Talisay City and Minglanilla and Naga towns at 9:26 a.m.

The brownouts lasted one-and-a-half hours.

DOE Visayas Director Antonio Labios did not answer several calls from Sun.Star Cebu.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Monday said it plans to question before the Court of Appeals the denial by the regional wage board to grant a P75 across-the-board wage increase for workers in the National Capital Region.

The National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) had earlier granted a P22 wage increase for workers instead of the P75 sought by the unions.

"We filed for a motion for appeal (with the RTWPB) reiterating the R75 wage petition. The motion appeal was denied so the TUCP is contemplating filing an appeal at the Court of Appeals," TUCP Spokesman Rafael Mapalo said, during a courtesy call on Monday, at the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) office in Intramuros, Manila.

The TUCP plans to file the petition with the Court of Appeals after obtaining the official evaluation for the denial of the wage petition, Mapalo said.

"We are still waiting for the official decision from the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)," he said.

"We have not done this in the past. But it is our obligation as trade union to file an appeal at the Court of Appeals," he said.

TUCP said it would question the P22 minimal wage increase and the inclusion of the establishments with assets fewer than P3 million in companies which could file for exemption in its petition with the Court of Appeals.

The NCR-RTWPB abused its discretion when it implemented Wage Order 15, which increased the minimum wage by P22 in the NCR, TUCP said in a statement.

The TUCP said the RTWPB "grossly disregarded the very spirit and intent of RA 6727 which expressly mandates that, in fixing minimum wages, the Board shall ensure decent standard of living necessary for the health, efficiency and general well-being of employees."

Mapalo said the P22 wage increase was only enough to sustain the living standards of workers in 2008 and is not viable for 2009 and 2010.

The TUCP based its current wage petition on the consumer price index (CPI) or the change in the prices of a specific goods and services in an area for a period each year. The labor group's current P75 wage increase petition in NCR is based on the CPI from 2008 to 2010 in the region.

THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas started its fact-finding investigation on the legality of the P500,000 severance pay the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) board gave a former member.

Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Santiago said yesterday her office assigned an anti-graft prosecutor to focus on the legitimacy of the release to former MCIAA board member and former Department of Tourism (DOT) 7director Patria Aurora Roa.

Santiago disclosed that former Tourism secretary Joseph Ace Durano called her up and inquired whether the reported release of severance pay to Roa was legal.

Despite her advice for the MCIAA to hold the check for Roa, Santiago learned from media reports that the check was delivered to Roa's house last Saturday afternoon.

MCIAA board secretary Evelyn Ramirez was quoted as saying they released the check to Roa since they did not receive any orders from the board to hold the release.

The 15-member MCIAA board passed last April 15 a resolution granting Roa the benefit to recognize her services to the board as an alternate member-director for 15 years.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia clarified yesterday that the "severance pay" to Roa was a collective effort of the board.

Bonus

Garcia, who sits in the board, said the body stands by its power under the MCIAA charter.

Section 7(d) of Republic Act 6958 or the MCIAA Charter states that the board is empowered "to approve salary ranges, benefits and other terms and conditions of service for all officers and employees of the authority, upon recommendation of the general manager, which shall, as far as possible, be competitive with those offered in the private sector, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations."

Some airport employees questioned Roa's severance pay after MCIAA General Manager Danilo Augusto Francia issued last July 7 a memorandum directing the airport's cashier to expedite the release of the check to Roa.

However, the governor believes disgruntled employees are behind the issue since the board turned down their request for a collective negotiation agreement bonus.

She said the board decided not to grant it since after computation, the body found out that most of the employees will receive P200,000 to P300,000 for one year alone.

The board found the employees' demand too high.

Garcia sits as an ex-officio member of the board.

The other members are Department of Justice Undersecretary Jovy Salazar, Department of Finance Undersecretary Marilou Degal, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director-General Alfonso Cusi, DOT 7 Director Maria Rica Bueno and private sector representatives, including former Cebu City vice mayor Renato Osmeña, Cebu Business Club president Dondi Joseph, newspaper columnist Bobit Avila and businessman Winglip Chang, one of the owners of Cebu Grand Convention Center.

COA

Francia reiterated yesterday the board did not violate any law when it granted the severance pay to Roa after her retirement.

In a text message, Francia also denied the MCIAA has incurred millions of pesos in payments and disbursements that were disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA) due to lack of legal basis.

However, COA disallowed the payment of P58 million worth of benefits to MCIAA officials and employees for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 before Francia became general manager.

In 2006, COA also reported the MCIAA disbursed without any legal basis P13.65 million worth of cash dividends to members of the board of directors and some officials and employees, including a legal consultant.

He added Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia may file a case against him before "the Supreme Court, Ombudsman or even in the United States of America."

"Liquidation, liquidation. Ngano dili na man lang sila diretso didto?

(Why don't they file a case immediately?)," the vice governor added.

This was in reaction to Garcia's order for a probe on the complaints of some barangay captains that they were required to liquidate bags of cement the Capitol distributed throughout the province even though they didn't receive any.

Sanchez said the investigation is meant to "pressure the barangay captains" and "extract" from them some information against him.

Garcia, in a press conference yesterday, said Sanchez is confused on his role as a government official.

She said the Local Government Code states the governor "shall exercisegeneral supervision over all programs, projects, services and activities in the province."

She said it is her duty to "control everything" as stated in the law.

"I determine the guidelines. I make programs. I'm the one who sets directions, not anybody else. Maybe he is reading the wrong page," Garcia said of Sanchez.

She said the duties, functions and powers of the vice governor as stated in Rule 16, Article 89 of the Code is to be the "presiding officer of the sang-guniang panlalawigan and sign all warrants drawn on the provincial treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the sangguniang panlala-wigan."

"How can you serve if you don't know what your functions are?" Garciasaid.

The governor said she will pursue the investigation on projects funded by Legislative Assistance Funds assigned to San-chez.

They will also look closely into the fuel consumption of "free bulldozer."

She will also investigate the contracting of the services of Zugbu Band, which is said to have performed at socio-cultural events where Sanchez distributed financial assistance.

He alleged Capitol budgeted P10 million for a 14-kilometer road opening, estimated to cost P714,000 per kilometer, while his road opening only cost P2.7 million for a 4.7-kilometer road.

Sanchez also presented a project proposal in July 2008, which was signed by the governor, which stated the Zugbu band would cater to the needs of the different local governments in the province, especially in their socio-cultural activities.

Velez, 44, of Barangay Ocana, Carcar City, Cebu was arrested last July 5, about two weeks after Manuel was gunned down in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.

Manuel, who owns several businesses in the city including the Cebu Park-lane International Hotel, died of multiple gunshot wounds. He was attacked less than 24 hours after a brother, Nicolas, was also ambushed in Mandaue City. Nicolas survived.

Nerez said two eyewitnesses executed affidavits pointing to Velez as Manuel Ting's gunman, which he believes are strong enough to pin down the jailed suspect.

Because of the report, Nerez said, he asked the woman to come out in the open and issue an affidavit to support her claim.

Nerez said he would like to know the background of the woman and to find out if she has any relation with the alleged gunman.

"We should not believe at once what anyone says," he said.

The mother of the female witness, however, went to the headquarters of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) yesterday to correct the alleged claim of her daughter.

Ina (mother's real name withheld, to protect the identity of the reported witness) said she was with her daughter when a radio reporter interviewed her.

BECAUSE their employment in Cebu City Hall is left hanging, members of the Mayor's Management Team (MMT) said they feel demoralized these days after learning some of them may be demoted, while some were given an option to resign.

An investigating body that handles administrative complaints against City Hall employees, which is composed of MMT members, will also be discontinued, and the task will be turned over to administrative officers.

The MMT members said that since last week, lawyer Jocelyn Pesquera has been interviewing them and reportedly told them they will be transferred to other offices, with some getting lower positions and less pay.

Pesquera, a former city councilor and a close friend of the mayor, also reportedly told some of them the MMT will no longer exist under the Rama administration, which did not sit well with former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Rama was quick to appease the close to 80 employees under the MMT. He assured he will keep them and will not demote them or terminate their services, and said some may even be given higher positions.

Guide

"No, I gave no instructions to demote them or tell them they should resign. I have no idea kung unsay gisulti ni Joy nila (what Joy told them) but she is just giving me ideas and guidance on human resources matters. Of course, the final decision is still mine to make," the mayor said.

Rama said he cannot stop the MMT members from having gripes, but said those who are demoralized are probably those who cannot wait for their appointments.

When he was mayor in 2005, Osmeña began hiring cum laude and magna cum laude graduates from different fields to fill up middle management posts in City Hall under the MMT program.

It was selected as one of the country's 10 best models of management by the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

"The MMTs are the pride not only of the local government units but of Cebu as well... Joy Pesquera reportedly told them that the MMT no longer exists, that individually they would be fired or demoted if they don't resign, or something to that effect. The mayor denies it, though. So, who's the boss?" Osmeña asked yesterday.

Warning

In a text message, the Cebu City south district congressman also said their party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan campaigned for Rama to be mayor, and not for Pesquera.

Osmeña said he is not the one who should be upset by the developments, but Rama, "whose administration will suffer."

Sun.Star Cebu called Pesquera to get her side on the issue, but she declined to comment.

In a phone interview yesterday, Rama explained he gave Pesquera authority to assess the strengths, skills, talents and performance of the MMT members so they can be assigned to offices where their capabilities can be maximized.

The assessment, he said, is part of his thrust to place "the right people in the right positions."

Worried

Five MMT members who were interviewed separately by Sun.Star Cebu yesterday said they and their peers are in low spirits because of the uncertainty on their employment status.

"For now, it's not clear who will stay and who will be hired and if he will get our current position. Some of us were told they will be demoted.

So demoralized gyud. Kami ra gud ang mga employees nga nakasulod sa City Hall not because of political endorsements, but because of our academic performance," one of them said.

They also questioned the authority of Pesquera in conducting the interviews, since she is not connected with the City Government at present.

Pesquera was a consultant on the Sangguniang Panlungsod systems improvement, sister-city ties and budget and finance under the Office of the Mayor, but her contract has not been renewed as of June 30.

Prerogative

Rama and Pesquera, who are both lawyers, specialized in human resources in the private sector before they joined the City Government.

"I don't think they should be questioning Joy's authority because that is my prerogative as a mayor. We don't have a specific person looking into these things, that is why I sought her assistance. And as mayor, I can choose anyone who I want to help me," he continued.

Rama said he will also change the structure of the body that investigates administrative complaints against City Hall employees, which will now be handled by administrative officers.

He said yesterday that he will look into the functions of the employee-management committee on inquiry (Emcoi) before restructuring it.

The Emcoi was created as a result of a case study of the first batch of the MMTs. Osmeña created the investigating body through an executive order.

Second district Provincial Board member Peter John Calderon was elected as majority floor leader while PB member Joven Mondigo was voted assistant majority floor leader in yesterday's session where the PB elected their top positions and chairmen, vice chairman and members of the different standing committees.

But before the approval of the standing committees chairmen, the PB discussed the house rules for more than an hour.

At least thrice, Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. declared recess to allow members of the PB to approach fellow board members to discuss the issue.

After the deliberation, the PB members approved the house rules.

The respective chairmen of the standing committees were PB member Ribomapil Holganza for the Committee on Barangay Affairs and Rural Development and PB member Sun Shimura for the Committee on Information and CommunicationTechnology.

The Committee on Public Works, Highways and Infrastructure will be headed by Ian Caesar Geronimo Zambo, Committee on Public Health and Social Service by Sergio Restauro, Committee on Public Safety, Peace and Order by Sun Shimura, Committee on Public Service by Jude Thaddeus Sybico.

The Committee on Laws, and Review on Ordinances will be headed by Peter John Calderon, Committee on Complaints and Investigation by Joven Mondigo Jr., Committee on Provincial and Municipal Properties by Alex Binghay, Committee on Public Affairs and Information by Julian Daan.

The Committee on Agriculture and Livelihood will be headed by Alex Binghay, Committee on Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources by Thadeo Ouano, Committee on Budget and Appropriations by Peter John Claderon, Committee on Education by Wilfredo Caminero; Committee on Youth and Sports Development by Bea Mercedes Calderon, Committee on Human Rights and Labor by Ribomapil Holganza Jr., Committee on Planning and Development by Thadeo Ouano, Committee on ways and means by Wilfredo Caminero.

The Commitee on Tourism and International Affairs will be headed by Agnes Magpale, Committee on Arts and Culture by Arleigh Sitoy, Committee on Women, Family and Minors by Agnes Magpale, Committee on Commerce and Industry by Jude Thaddeus Sybico, Committee on Cooperatives by Ian Caesar Geronimo Zambo, Committee on Accreditation by Joven Mondigo Jr., Committee on Senior Citizens by Sergio Restauro.

The Committee on Ethics and the Committee on Dangerous Drugs and Prevention will be headed by Alfred Francis Ouano while the Committee on Differently-abled Persons by Arleigh Sitoy.

MANILA, PhilippinesDengue cases went up by 40 per cent during the period of January to June 26 this year compared to the same period last year, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

At least 190 persons died from the mosquito-borne disease out of the 25,283 dengue cases treated in hospitals during the period, the DOH said.

Some 172 villages were also found to have a clustering of dengue cases. The regions with the most number of cases included Central Luzon, South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos (Socsksargen), Southern Tagalog, National Capital Region, Central Visayas and Davao.

A total of 18,055 dengue cases were reported last year in the period January to June 26

Health Secretary Enrique Ona asked the media on Monday to remind the public to take precautions against the dengue-carrying mosquitoes which bite during the daytime and thrive in clean, stagnant water.

He said dengue had become fairly common not only during the rainy season but year round.

He was surprised that none of the reporters who interviewed him have had dengue since he himself had contracted the potential killer disease three years ago.

Na-dengue na ako (Ive had dengue). The public should be wary of stagnant water, Ona warned.

It occurs all throughout the year except during one month at the start of the rainy season, he said.

Ona downplayed reports that six elementary students in Candon City in Ilocos Sur had tested positive for the Influenza A(H1N1) virus last week, insisting that the cases were just like ordinary flu.

We want to assure the public that the DOH is on top of things. The A(H1N1) virus is already in the Philippines but it appears not much different from ordinary flu, he said.

The discovery of a new influenza strain triggered a global alarm last year after the World Health Organization nearly declared an A(H1N1) pandemic.

But health officials later downplayed the effects of the A(H1N1) flu strain due to the relatively low mortality rate.

According to news reports, the six studentsthree boys and three girlsmanifested typical symptoms of the A(H1N1) virus such as high fever, sore throat and diarrhea. But five have already recovered while one still has a cough.

Ona said the new cases appeared to have been caused by the same A(H1N1) strain that entered the country last year. It may or may not have spread but we are continuously monitoring it, he said.

Dilapidated hospitals with outdated facilities, patients forced to rent their own oxygen tanks, and the shortage of medicines and health centers – these are just some of the problems in the public health sector that President Noynoy Aquino will have to solve in his administration.

For the first time since he assumed office last Monday, Health Secretary Enrique Ona drew a broad outline of how the Aquino administration would carry out its ambitious goal of giving universal health care coverage within the next three years.

Roughly 88 percent of adult Filipinos trust President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III even though only 14 percent believe he can fulfill all of his campaign promises, the latest Social Weather Stations survey said.

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Monday told the top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prioritize human rights after a string of extrajudicial killings occurred during his first week in office.

Traditions and simple protocol will be observed during the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, his chief protocol officer said Monday.

"We want to make the protocol rules as simple as possible, that is the message that I've gotten from the President," said former Ambassador Miguel Perez Rubio, chief of the presidential protocol.

He spoke to reporters on Monday after conducting an ocular inspection of the House of Representatives' session hall where the President will deliver the SONA on July 26.

He said they "want to be polite but not excessively ceremonial, not with a lot of pomp and circumstance. Traditions have been observed all the time. We will follow traditions because it's been observed under the Constitution."

He added they will not be strict but they will be observing the rules.

"We will hope (to keep the order) but obviously sometimes the people are emotionally excited and anxious. It's not very nice if you're showing on television that it is very unruly. Talagang maganda kung everything is very nice and orderly, at least we pray, we hope," he said.

During the ocular inspection, the protocol officers counted the seats to ensure that the number of attendees matches the number of seats.

Rubio admitted it will be difficult to limit the number of people attending the SONA because the Senate and the House also send their own invitations.

"I'm sure that a lot of people wanted to come here… it will be very, very difficult to be able to limit the people," he said.

He said they want to accommodate as many guests as possible. However, certain factors have to be considered like the size of the venue and the number of seats available.

Among those who will be invited are the Cabinet members, the members of the diplomatic community, and former presidents.

MANILA, Philippines -- A congressman said he will push for the early passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill to make it the "very first legacy" of the 15th Congress under the Aquino administration.

Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada (4th District, Quezon) said the bill is "long overdue" and had been a product of several discussions in the past Congresses.

The FOI bill passed the Bicameral Conference Committee but failed to be enacted in the final session day of the 14th Congress due to lack of quorum in the House of Representatives.

For the incoming 15th Congress, Tañada will file the FOI bill, titled "an act implementing the right of the people to information on matters of public concern guaranteed under section seven, article three of the 1987 Constitution and the state policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest under section twenty-eight, article two of the 1987 Constitution, and for other purposes."

"The approval of the FOI bill by the 15th Congress will add on and enhance the nation's democratic ideals and further empower the people," Tañada said.

The lawmaker said the new bill expands its scope in terms of government agencies as well as information covered.

The measure will also push for a clear, uniform and speedy procedure for access to information and a proscription against excessive costs of access to information, Tañada added.

He said the bill will enable a system of accessible and speedy remedies that may be resorted to by a citizen who has been denied access to information.

Likewise, it will mandate to promote a culture of openness within the government.

Furthermore, the bill will provide a clear administrative, criminal and civil liability for violation of the right to information, the lawmaker said.

"This bill is the very enabling law that the Constitution so mandated legislature to provide more than 20 years ago. I see no reason for any delay in the passage of this measure," he added.

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III should revoke the appointment of Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez if he really did cheat in a golf tournament, Senator Senator Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III said Monday.

"We can only hope…that the appointees will not allow themselves to be instruments of big business in plundering the national coffers and the economy," Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said in a text message.

He noted that Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus used to be the president and chief operating officer of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) while Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras was a former president of Manila Water Co. Inc. and a long-time executive of Ayala Corporation.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson was a former president of Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) and director of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). He is also the concurrent chairman of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

"This is definitely a matter of concern considering that these business interests are known supporters and funders of Aquino's presidential campaign," Casiño said.

Meralco and Maynilad Water used to be controlled by the Lopez family.

But now, Meralco is controlled by Manuel V. Pangilinan, holding an estimated 40 percent of the electric company through various firms that he runs, including the MPIC and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), the country's largest and leading telecommunications company.

Pangilinan also has interests in Maynilad, which is run by a joint venture between MPIC and publicly-listed company DMCI.

Quezon Rep Erin Tanada, Liberal Party spokesperson, said the appointed Cabinet members should be given a chance to prove their worth.

"We have full faith and confidence on the choices of PNoy in the different departments. I don't think that it is fair to judge them just because they used to work for regulated companies. They are professionals and they should be allowed to prove their worth before any person may pass judgment on them," he said.

MANILA, Philippines - Alleged infighting in the communications group of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III could lead to problems in the future, a political analyst warned Monday.

Prof. Prospero de Vera of the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), said Aquino was trying to please everyone in his inner circle in the formation of his communications group.

Speaking at the sidelines of the UP-NCPAG seminar for new lawmakers, De Vera said the inclusion of former mediamen Manolo Quezon III, Ricky Carandang and Herminio Coloma is a " choice the president had to make given that he was carried to power by a vast array of forces."

De Vera warned the President that such a situation is not sustainable over the long term since the president will eventually have to act decisively and get rid of people who don't help.

He said all new Cabinet members will have to assessed after one year if they have delivered on the promises of the administration.

De Vera said problems could come up with the warring factions because they might end up contradicting each other or furthering their own interests. De Vera said the same thing happened during the term of President Cory Aquino, mother of the incumbent president.

He added, however, that the rift is part of the normal birth pains of a new administration.

De Vera said the President may also be trying to compensate for weaknesses and clashes of his Cabinet with the media by expanding the communication system.

Quezon and Carandang have been identified with the group of Aquino supporters allied with the Hyatt 10, Liberal Party and former Senator Mar Roxas.

Coloma, columnist of BusinessWorld, is identified as a close associate of Cory Aquino's Radio TV Malacañang head, Maria Montelibano, who is also perceived to be close to the camp of Vice-President Jejomar Binay.

Sources have told ABS-CBN News that the weeks-long impasse over the communications team---which will supersede the current Office of the Press Secretary---is because of the acrimonious struggle over control over the government's propaganda machinery in preparation for the 2016 elections.

Over the weekend, Carandang and Quezon tendered their resignations from immediate past positions in ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, though they gave no details of their next plans.

Malacañang had separately said the communications team will be formally created and announced this week. However, it did say that the communications team is complete.

Sources have also told ABS-CBN News that the arrangement for the communications team was formalized last Friday, the same night Carandang tendered his resignation from ABS-CBN. Quezon, meantime, announced on his farewell column for the Inquirer his functions in the Aquino administration.

Carandang and Quezon will supposedly handle the messaging function of the communications team, while Coloma will handle media relations, which handles the bureaucracy under the OPS.

Such a bureaucracy includes the Philippine Information Agency, government channel NBN 4, sequestered stations RPN9 and IBC 13, and government radio Radyo ng Bayan as well as the National Printing Office.

MANILA, Philippines - The overseas employment service industry said it would look for new labor markets amid strong commitments from President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's administration to strengthen the workforce.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez called on the public not to prejudge her in acting on anomalies involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. And standing pat on her earlier stance, she said her enemies will not find any ground to impeach her.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will stick to her position despite growing calls for her resignation, the second impeachment complaint set to be filed against her, and the Aquino administration's skepticism toward her resolve.

MANILA, Philippines - Defeated vice-presidential bet Manuel Roxas's petition questioning the results of the May 2010 vice-presidential race is sufficient in form and substance, the Supreme Court said Monday.

MANILA, Philippines - The military on Monday said it is open to the suggestion of former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim for a fresh investigation into the involvement of several military generals in the rigging of the 2004 presidential election.

MANILA, Philippines - Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel on Monday admitted that she is shocked that the Marcos family has returned to national prominence more than 20 years after they were removed from power.

Justice secretary issues marching ordersFORMER Quezon City Police District chief Magtanggol B. Gatdula vowed "no special treatment" to his former superior at the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, as he took over the helm of the top probe agency yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday twitted the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for the reported special treatment given to Maguindanao massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Sr. last week.

(UPDATE) Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said she will monitor the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on the kind of treatment it provides to members of the Ampatuan clan facing 57 counts of murder for the massacre of people in Maguindanao.

PRESIDENT BENIGNO Simeon C. Aquino III will ask the military and members of the peace panel to consider inviting Indonesia to broker the peace talks between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has assured the military of a feedback mechanism that would address its grievances as he acknowledged that there might be some who are "disgruntled" and "demoralized" within the organization.

MANILA, Philippines - A fiscal crisis is looming and first time lawmakers should be focusing on addressing the country's fiscal situation, instead of raising taxes, a former National Treasurer said on Monday.

MANILA, Philippines -- The Bureau of Customs (BoC) is set to file smuggling charges against the reported owner of two pleasure yachts that were allegedly brought into the country illegally from the United States.

According to Attorney Juito Doria, BoC-Certificate of Payment Centralized Clearing Center (CPCCC) chief, the BoC will file smuggling raps against Restie Bicomong, who is said to be the owner of the "Pleasure Yacht RDB" and "Pleasure Yacht VZR." The vessels are reportedly worth P20 million each.

The case would be filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the bureau's Run After the Smugglers Program (RATS) since it appeared that there was no payment of import tax.

Earlier, the BoC issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the vessels, each weighing 12-gross tons.

"Since last May, we have already received initial information on the yachts. We could not believe that they were locally built," said Doria.

The vessels were confiscated by joint elements of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the BoC at 11:30 a.m. of July 8 at the bay side of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Customs personnel were able to talk to Bicomong when they seized the ships last week, but they did not apprehend him at that time since he reportedly denied being the owner. BoC-Enforcement Security Service (ESS) director Nestorio Gualberto said that they initially checked on the background of Bicomong, but they did not find any derogatory record on him.

Gualberto has already given instructions to verify if the company Bendice Transportation Management, Inc., whose office is said to be located at Orchid Tower Oriental Gardens, Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, really exists.

They would also check if Bicomong is connected the Bendice. The names of both entities appeared in the Certificate of Ownership issued by the Maritime Industry Authority.

As for the two yachts, BoC-Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing Jr., who heads the Enforcement Group, said that forfeiture proceedings would be conducted at the Port of Manila (PoM). Once the vessels are forfeited in favor of the government, it would be decided if they would be auctioned or given to the PCG in the conduct of maritime patrol or for search and rescue missions.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo is hoping that the vessels would be turned over to them because they are faster than any of their existing vessels and it can be useful in the conduct of search and rescue mission. Each vessel is equipped with three units of 250 horsepower Yamaha engines or a combined 750 horsepower.

"The vessels would also come in handy in seakeeping during rough weather," Tamayo added.

KAMPALA, Uganda - An al-Qaeda-linked Somali militant group claimed responsibility Monday for twin bombings in Uganda that killed 74 people watching the World Cup final on TV, saying the militants would carry out attacks "against our enemy" wherever they are. It was the group's first international attack.

THE HAGUE—The International Criminal Court added genocide Monday to the list of charges against Sudan's President Omar al-Beshir, after issuing a warrant for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity last year.

All it took was a one-word answer for Michael Jordan to settle the Kobe Bryant-LeBron James debate. When he was asked at a basketball camp who the better basketball player was, Jordan simply said, "Kobe."

Popout

You can counter that Jordan's talent evaluations leave a lot to be desired. He did draft Kwame Brown, you know. But his reputation as the game's all-time greatest player speaks for itself. This is hardly a new revelation. When James won his second best most valuable player award, I presented in detail why Bryant is still the NBA's best player. But as James continues to be rightfully derided for how he went about making "The Decision," The Times' Mark Heisler correctly observes that Bryant's reputation has improved as James' has fallen.

And to think, the storyline appeared much different only one season ago. Former Lakers General ManagerJerry West, who drafted Bryant out of Lower Merion (Pa.) High in 1996 and has remained one of his most ardent supporters, argued that James surpassed Bryant as a basketball player. When Cleveland made the Finals and the Lakers endured another first-round exit in 2007, the conventional thinking said James had proved he could lead a team while Bryant hadn't. In reality, neither person has really changed. James' one-hour special served as the latest example that he has looked out for No. 1 with little regard for anyone else. Bryant's tempered attitude has coincided with the Lakers adding more talent around him and winning championships.

But as of right now, Bryant is prevailing in the court of public opinion, a notion that's further cemented with Jordan's endorsement.

MANILA, Philippines - There's only one actor in the Philippines with the honorific "Papa" attached to his name, and he is setting his sights on one of the country's most exciting showbiz personalities.

Owing perhaps to an aversion to overseas travel, President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III has kept his passport expired for six years, or since he was a member of the House of Representatives.

This — as well as other quirks of the man who just a year ago was just a regular neophyte senator who was hardly headline material — was bared by Aquino's longtime secretary in an exclusive interview with GMA News reporter Lei Alviz.

"Siguro noong congressman siya, mga two times lang(siyang lumabas ng bansa), isang States at isang Japan (I think he left the country only two times when he was still a congressman, one to the United States and one to Japan)," said Undersecretary Rochelle Ahorro, who has been with Aquino since 1987.

The interview was aired over GMA News' "24 Oras" Monday.

Ahorro was Aquino's secretary, executive assistant and chief of staff during his nine-year stint as Tarlac representative, and senior executive assistant and appointments secretary when he was a senator.

She said they have yet to work for the renewal of Aquino's passport, which she said expired in 2004.

PNoy vs branded clothes

Ahorro said Aquino, despite being a scion of an affluent political clan, also has a liking for inexpensive clothes. She recalled during the interview Aquino's reaction when, one time, she bought for him pants worth P8,000 each.

"Nagulat siya sa price. Gusto niya yata akong patayin 'yun (He was so surprised with the price that I think he wanted kill me)," she said in jest.

The same frugality, however, is not applied on food, as Aquino is known to prefer steaks, and crabs over chicken, Ahorro said.

The appointment blunder

Nicknamed "Sexy" by Aquino himself, Ahorro remembered one major mistake she committed in her job in 1987 that resulted to Aquino attending a function that was scheduled a week later.

(I made a mistake on his schedule. I wanted to jump off a building back then. I made him go to function a week earlier than it was scheduled. He still remembers that, even if that happened many years ago.)

Apologies are enough

The schedule blunder apparently irked Aquino, according to Ahorro, but he was appeased by a simple gesture of apology.

On a more serious note, Ahorro described Aquino as a hands-on boss who would personally choose which functions he wants to attend. He was also known for finishing whatever task he has started working on no matter the odds.

"Pag sinabi niya, sinabi niya. May paninindigan (He stands by what he says. He is principled)," said Ahorro.